Will do. Thanks.
He gives me a thumbs up in response. I feel better about this, like I have a direction. Putting my phone down, I turn back to my laptop and start the video over. Ono’s a good-looking guy. It’s amusing that so many think he’s older than me. I think it’s the dark hair and how he has rough-looking, careless facial hair. It’s reminiscent of a certain Stars Hollow coffee shop owner.
I smirk as I hit play again.
My phone dings, and I immediately reach for it. Then roll my eyes because I’m being absolutely ridiculous and force myself to calm the fuck down. I tap my screen and find a notification from Alka. Clicking on it, the words confuse me.
Alka
Ruby’s here!
What does that mean? Our first visit isn’t for a couple weeks yet.
Me
What?
I don’t receive an answer. I’m on the verge of calling him when the front door opens, and my husband comes in. He’s in front of me as soon as I’m on my feet, wrapping his arms around me.
“What does that mean?” I ask, hugging him tightly. His heart is racing. I can feel it drumming frantically against mine.
“He’s here. On my team. Obviously, we haven’t had a chance to talk about how this happened and managed to blindside us all yet.”
“Where is he? You didn’t bring him home?”
Alka smiles. “Trust me, that was my first choice, but his brother’s here so they’re having dinner.”
I groan, scowling. He grins. “I know. Also, it’s really cute seeingyouimpatient to see someone. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like that.”
My scowl fades as I look at him. “I guess it’s a little weird, huh?”
“No, I didn’t say weird; I said cute. I really kinda love this. And I definitely love sharing the experience of falling for the same man with you. Like… It’s just one more thing we share. Something else we can love each other for.”
I rest my forehead against his. “Yeah?”
His head moves against mine, a nod without full-on nodding. “It’s… exhilarating. It feels so good to share this with you.”
“It does,” I agree. “I think maybe a little weird too. I’ve mused a lot over the last week aboutwhyit happened. Maybe it’s circumstances—the environment and commitments allowed both of us to spend time with Ruby together instead of you seeing him separately. But maybe it’s just Ruby himself. Maybe it’s because I can feel how differently this one feels toyou.”
“His name is Roux,” he says.
My eyebrows knit. “What?”
Alka grins. “Yep. I’m going to assume he gave us a nickname. He figured out what was happening literally minutes before it happened. He called me, but I had to tell him we couldn’t talk because I was almostin front of my team. He asked me my name and where I worked. In return, he told me his name. When I tell you it was only two minutes after he said his name that I read it on my roster, I mean it. The team thinks I’ve lost my mind with the way I just stared at him.”
I laugh. “Poor team.”
“Poor team.” He snorts, then nods. “Yeah, maybe. I gave them over to Harper. She’s more hardcore than I am.”
She is.
Alka’s phone rings, and he takes a step back. I hear his breath as he looks at me, and I know it’s Ruby. Uh… Roux.
He puts the phone on speaker and answers. “Dinner already finished?”
“No,” Ruby answers. “Noah just finished his game in Texas, so Lix is talking to him. My options were to sit here, impatiently thinking about you, or calling. Where’s Oscar?”
I grin. “Right here, Ruby. Alka says you’re here?”
